Starting in 2002 – with a first crop of around 200 tonnes of prawns harvested in February 2004 – Coral Sea Farms Australia is now fully operational and was officially opened today by the Federal Fisheries Minister Senator Eric Abetz.
"Coral Sea Farms is a showcase of some of the best things about aquaculture including diversification of land use, creation of employment opportunities, instigation of high standards of environmental practice and value-adding on site," Abetz says.
To date, construction and infrastructure expenditure on the saltwater prawn farm has exceeded $7 million. The facility currently employs eight permanent staff and up to 12 casuals, providing jobs to crew members on vessels whose licences were purchased under the Federal Government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package.
Source: Blue's Country Magazine
32 hectares under prawns, aquaculture cooking up North
AUSTRALIA - The neighbours grow sugar cane but this 32 hectare farm at Hinchinbrook grows prawns.